Prairie Creek Township
View a history of Prairie Creek Township.

SETH CLARK, farmer, Prairie Creek, was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1831, and is the son of Anson and Sarah (WILKINS) CLARK. His father was a native of New York state, was born in 1797, and came to Terre Haute in a (sic) early day, but having found a location in Sullivan county he remained there for a time. The last twenty-five years of his life he spent in Vigo county, where he died in 1876. Mr. CLARK was joined in marriage to Sarah MYERS, daughter of John F. MYERS, of Pennsylvania, and they had two children, Emanuel and Jesse. Mr. CLARK served one year in the 35th Ind. Vol. Inf., Co. D. He owns 190 acres of fine improved land, which is the fruit of his own labor. In politics he is a radical republican.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairie Creek Twp. - pp. 498-499

AUGUSTON ELLIOTT, farmer, Prairie Creek, is one of the pioneers of Prairie Creek township, and was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, in 1813. His father died when he was a mere lad, and he had to depend on himself for a livelihood. He wended his way west, and settled in Prairie Creek township, Vigo County, in 1822, and by hard work and economy he has accumulated a nice little fortune. He is the owner of 500 acres of fine farming land. When he came to the county he took jobs of clearing by the acre, receiving but $4 per acre. He now lives on the oldest settled timber farm in the county. His wife, now deceased, was Sarah KERCHIVAL, born in 1809, and died in 1877, leaving six children to mourn her loss: Martha J., wife of A.V. STARK; Matilda, wife of W.S. VANGILDER; Sarah E., wife of E. STARK; Julie A., William K., and Robert. One of their children, Joseph, died.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairie Creek Twp. - p. 496

S.E.K. FISK, farmer, Prairie Creek, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, August 15, 1825, and at the age of thirteen his parents removed to Vigo county, and settled in Lockport, Riley township. Here his father practiced medicine, which he followed during his life in this county, having formerly practiced in Ohio. In 1839, Mr. FISK went to Terre Haute, and served an apprenticeship at the painter's trade, which he followed more or less in Terre Haute until 1846. After this he came to Middletown, where he engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed successfully for twelve years. In 1852 he was elected as trustee of Prairie Creek township, which office he held for twelve years. Mr. FISK'S father was a native of Clermont county, New Hampshire, born February 20, 1804, and died in this county in 1851. His mother was a native of Franklin county, Ohio, born September 20, 1801, and died in 1873. In 1858 Mr. FISK married Miss M.J. ERNEST, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ERNEST, who were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina. Mr. FISK has been a member of Odd-Fellows for twenty-six years, of lodge 51, which meets at Terre Haute, and his wife has been a constant member of the Baptist church for twenty years.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairie Creek Twp. - p. 498

J.D.E. KESTER, farmer, Prairieton, was born in Vigo County, Indiana, March 3, 1826. His father, Ephraim P., came from Kentucky to Vigo County as early as 1822 or 1823. He was born in 1795, and died in this county (Vigo) in 1850. Mr. KESTER'S mother is also a native of Kentucky, born in 1805, and is a resident of Vigo County. When they came to this county they settled in Linton township. Mr. KESTER has been a resident of the county all his life, and is as old a native citizen as is now living in Prairie Creek township. In December, 1846, he was united in marriage to Harriet W. TRUEBLOOD, a native of North Carolina, born June 11, 1827, and by their union they have six children: Ephraim B.; Cordelia A., wife of Wm. S. LEE; Robanna, wife of T. FURGESON during his life; Marvin H., Rosa, and Earley P. Mr. KESTER is a member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge No. 178, which meets at Prairieton, and is the owner of 100 acres of well improved land.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairie Creek Twp. - pp. 496-497

C.H. MORGAN, farmer, Prairie Creek, is the son of one of the old and respected citizens of Prairie Creek township, who came to Vigo county, in 1829, and settled in Prairie Creek township, where the subject of this sketch was born in 1845, he having remained at home working on his father's farm until he was man grown. After this he began for himself, and at the present time he is the owner of as fine a farm as there is in Prairie Creek township. His buildings and his surroundings to the passer-by will go to show that Mr. MORGAN has not been idle, although when he took his farm it was in the rough and was a heavy timbered farm. His father was born in 1816, and died March 29, 1880. Mr. MORGAN has been twice married. His first wife was Ophelia TRUEBLOOD, daughter of B.G. TRUEBLOOD, who was one of the early settlers of Vigo county. The maiden name of his present wife was Nancy M. GILLCREASE. Mr. MORGAN has four children by his former and one by his present wife. Mr. MORGAN is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Lodge No. 178, which meets at Prairieton, and in politics he is a staunch republican.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 498

JOHN RYNERSON, farmer, Prairie Creek, was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, May 17, 1817, and at the age of 7 his parents came to Sullivan county, Indiana. His father, Isaac, was a native of Kentucky, born July 18, 1787, and his mother was also a native of Kentucky, born January 28, 1797. They both died in Sullivan county, Indiana, the father June 21, 1862, and the mother December 28, 1866. Mr. RYNERSON has been a resident off and on for the last forty-two years, and by hard work and a strict attention to farming and stock raising is the owner of 480 acres of fine farming land in Prairie Creek township. In 1837 he married Letha CHAMBERS, daughter of S. CHAMBERS, who came to Indiana as early as 1808. Mrs. RYNERSON was born in Knox county, Indiana, in 1817. She has been a faithful wife and a kind mother to her nine children, whose names are Isaac, Sarah J., wife of H.B. WILSON; Rebecca A., wife of W. HIX; Samuel C., John L., Dianah, wife of A. BOWEN; Barnet, William and Benjamin. Isaac and Samuel served in the late rebellion, Isaac in the 85th Ind. Vol. Inf. and Samuel in the 149th Ind. Vol. Inf.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairie Creek Twp. - pp. 497-498

HENRY SHOEMAKER, deceased, was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in 1792, and died in Prairie Creek township, Vigo County, Indiana, in 1867. He removed with his family to Vigo County, Indiana, several years after his first marriage, and lived in Prairie Creek and adjoining townships all his life. He held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. He served in the war of 1812 two years, and held the position of major. He first married a Mrs. Elizabeth ELLIOTT, of Kentucky, who had at that time a family of seven children. She died in Vigo County. He married a second time, to Miss (sic) Chloe [TURNER] FRAKES, who also died, after which he was married a third time, to a Miss Cassey McGLONE, of Vigo County, by which marriage they had four children. There are now but nine of the seventeen children living. Henry SHOEMAKER Jr. now lives near the center of the township, not far from Richard WATSON'S. He was married in 1846 to Miss Esther HUNT, of Prairie Creek township. They have now a family of nine children, and have lost one. His wife died February 2, 1880. She was a daughter of Absolom HUNT, who is also dead.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairie Creek Twp. - p. 496

RICHARD WATSON, farmer, Prairie Creek, was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, October 7, 1826, and in 1828 his parents moved to Sullivan county, Indiana, and in 1836 they came to Vigo county. His father, Scarlet, was a native of Virginia, born in 1801, and his mother, Kizzia WALKER, was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, in 1804. His father died in this county in 1876. Mr. WATSON has spent most of his life in Prairie Creek township. He has been married three times. His first wife was Louisa RANY, and she died in 1848. He was married the second time to M.M. PADOCK, and she died in 1868. His third choice was Mrs. J.B. STOUT, who is a native of Prairie Creek township, Vigo county, born in 1828. Mr. WATSON has four sons, all by his second wife: John L., James B., Benjamin F., and Albert H. Mr. WATSON now owns 126 and ½ acres of fine improved land, besides having provided land for all of his sons. He has made several trips down the Mississippi with flat-boats in an early day, it taking seven weeks to make the trip and return.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairie Creek Twp. - p. 497

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